Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was an American romantic author and short story writer. Born in Salem, Massachusetts, Hawthorne was descended from the early Puritan settlers of New England, one of whom was a judge involved in the Salem Witch Trials. His works often contain moral allegories and themes stemming from Purtianism, such as the inherent evil and sin of humanity. Hawthorne attended Bowdoin College and achieved literary success with the publication of THE SCARLET LETTER in 1850, often considered to be his magnum opus.